Roller cage for confining continuous casting as it emerges from mold

ABSTRACT

A cage for confining a slab casting descending from a tubular flow-through mold is constituted by spaced opposed banks of rollers engaging both the broad faces and the edges of the slab. The rollers are journaled in side and end frames bolted together forming an enclosure open at the top and bottom. Cooling-spray nozzles extend between adjacent rollers of all banks. The cage stands on a fixed support and keys and keyways on the contacting surfaces thereof effect exact relative positioning. These surfaces also have self-sealing joints in pipe lines supplying water to manifolds on which the nozzles are mounted.

United States Patent 1191 Gallucci l I I1: 3,727,673

[ Apr. 17, 1973 ROLLER CAGE FOR CONFINING 3,313,006 4/l967 Barbe et a].l64/283 CDOINTIENUOUS CASTING AS IT ii/i H al 164/89 arter et E RGESFROM MOLD 2,947,075 8/1960 Schneckenburger et al. 164/282 X [75Inventor: Francis Gallucci, lrwin, Pa. 3,468,362 9/1969 Burkhardt et a]164/283 X [73] Assignee United states Steel Corporation 3,495,651 2/1970Rokop et a]. 164/89 X 22 Filed; M 21 1971 Primary Examiner-J. SpencerOverholser Assistant ExaminerMichael 0. Sutton [211 PP 145,943Attorney-Ralph H. Dougherty Related U.S. Apphcation Data ABSTRACT [60] gfgz litg sg g figs 25 23 13223: $6 A cage for confining a slab castingdescending from a Feb 27 l968 PaLNO 3 538 980 tubular flow-through moldis constituted by spaced opposed banks of rollers engaging both thebroad faces and the edges of the slab. The rollers are jour- 52 US. Cl...164 282, 164 283, 164 89 E In Cl /B22d naled in side and end framesbolted together tormmg [58] i "f 89 282 an enclosure open at the top andbottom. Coolin 1 1 spray nozzles extend between adjacent rollers of .allbanks. The cage stands on a fixed support and keys 56] References Citedand keyways on the contacting surfaces thereof effect exact relativepositioning. These surfaces also have UNITED STATES PATENTS self-sealingjoints in pipe lines supplying water to manifolds on which the nozzlesare mounted. 3,550,672 l2/l970 Fastert et al ..164/273 R 2,284,5035/1942 Williams 164/282 2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 0 L I L F7]PATENTEU APR 1 71973 SHEET 1 [1F 7 Illl INVENTOR FRANCIS GALLUCC/Altar/70y PATENTED APR 1 71973 7 SHEET 2 OF 7 N mm FRANCIS GALLUCC/Mom/4411 Al/omey PATENTEDAFR 1 7197s SHEET 6 OF 7 IN l/E N 7 OR FRA/VLISGALLUCCI 1% M Attorney Q MEI PATENIEB APR 1 7 I973 INVENTO R FRANCISGALLUCC/ Attorney ROLLER CAGE FOR CONFINING CONTINUOUS CASTING AS ITEMERGES FROM MOlLll) CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser.No. 1,485, filed Jan. 8, 1970, and now abandoned, which is a division ofmy then copending application, Ser. No. 708,660, filed Feb. 27, 1968,now U.S. PAT. No. 3,538,980.

The cage or mold-discharge rack disclosed herein is adapted forcooperation with, and has some aspects of similarity to the guide-rollerrack of Charles H. Bode, Jr. application Ser. No. 708,684, filed Feb.27, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,488.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the continuouscasting of metal, e.g., steel, and more particularly, to a cage ofspaced banks of rollers through which the casting descends on emergencefrom the water-cooled tubular flow-through mold usually employed. Themold constitutes the primary cooling zone. The cage or molddischargerack is located in the secondary cooling zone immediately below the moldand stands on the guideroller rack (Bode application) which is acontinuation of the cage serving to guide the casting downwardly untilit enters the pinch rolls below the guide-roller rack. The terminologyprimary" and secondary in describing the cooling zones is recognized inthe art as shown, for example, in Tiskus et al. US. Pat. No. 3,417,8l0.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general terms, the structure of my inventioncomprises a rigid housing or cage including spaced side and end frames.Guide rollers adapted to engage the broad faces of a cast slab arejournaled in the side frames and rollers adapted to engage the edgefaces of the slab are journaled in the end frames. The rollers engagingthe edge faces of the slab are adjustable to permit cooperation withslabs of different widths. Nozzles for discharging sprays of coolingliquid onto all faces of the slab are mounted on the several frames andself-sealing makeand-break connections are provided between pipesextending upwardly from the bottom of the housing of the cage ormold-discharge rack, and supply pipes installed in the guide-roller racktherebelow. The frames of the mold-discharge rack also have reciproeablerods adapted to advance into engagement with the broad and edge faces ofa starter bar to center it as it is raised through the cage andintroduced into the lower end of the mold. Jacks are provided to effectminor horizontal adjustment of the cage to bring it into precisealignment with the mold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A complete understanding of theinvention may be obtained from the following detailed description andexplanation which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating thepresent preferred embodiment. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing in section a slab casting confined by thecage;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation with parts omitted;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation;

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical section taken along the plane ofline lV-IVof FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial horizontal section taken on the plane of line V-V ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a similar section taken on the plane of line VI-VI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a partial central vertical section through one of the endframes;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the mold-oscillator frame 0 through which thecage or mold-discharge rack extends, showing the reciprocable rods forcentering the starter bar and the cage-adjusting jacks;

FIG. 9 is an elevation of the mold oscillator frame;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section through one of the centering rods;

FIG. 11 is a partial section through the bottom of one of the end framesshowing a portion of a self-sealing make-and-break joint;

FIG. 12 is a partial elevation showing a detail; and

FIG. 13 is a partial section taken along the plane of line XIII-XIII ofFIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT of the building in whichthe continuous casting apparatus is housed. The principal function ofthe cage 10 is to confine and guide the cast rectangular-section slab 14descending therethrough and support the initially thin skin thereofagainst rupture under the ferrostatic head of the liquid metalthereabove, while intense water cooling is applied in the secondarycooling zone to cause inward solidification of the partially solidifiedcasting from its surfaces.

Cage 10 is made up of end frames 15 and side frames 16 bolted togetherto form a rigid :rectangularhousing, open at both upper and lower ends,as shown in FIG. 1. The frames have detachable upper portions 15' and 16generally similar to the remainder thereof and bolted thereto for easyremoval. Frames II5 are like an opensided box or pan fabricated fromsteel plate. Frames 16 are composed ofa plate 16a and stiffener channels16b welded transversely thereof. Rollers 17 arranged in opposed banks,adapted to engage the broad faces of slab 14, are journaled in bearings18 mounted on plate 16a.

Spaced back-up rollers 19 engaging adjacent pairs of rollers 17 aresimilarly journaled in bearings 20. N02- zles 21 discharging sprays ofcooling liquid onto the slab extend from a pipe manifold 22 throughholes in plates 16a and between rollers 17. Manifolds 22 are sides ofthe frames. Plates 24 are secured to two pushup rods 25 slidable insleeves 26 (FIG. 6) secured to frames 15. The two rods connected to eachset of plates 24 are connected by a pair of bridge beams 2727. Eye bolts28 pivoted to frames 15 extend between beams 27-27. Nuts on these boltsmake it possible to advance or retract the beams and plates 24 to setrollers 23 for different slab widths. Rollers 23a in the detachableupper portions 15' of frames 15 are similarly journaled and mounted asshown in FIG. but the single push-up rod 25a thereof is actuated by abridge beam 27a through nuts on a pair of stud bolts 29 rigidly securedto the frames, as by bushings 29a movable in slots 29b in the verticalinner plate of frames 15'.

Referring now to F lGS. 8 and 9, the mold-oscillator frame 12 mountspairs of opposed fluid-pressure cylinders 30 and 31 centered on thebroad and narrow faces of the slab 14. The piston rod of each cylinderhas an enlarged head 32 thereon adapted to engage a tiltable latch 33(FIG. The latch is pivoted at 34 to a bracket 35 which has a bodyportion 330 adapted to be engaged by head 32. The latch has spaceddepending ears 33b adapted to engage behind head 32. Inclined edges 330on the latch are engaged by head 32 as it advances and this tilts thelatch upwardly until the ears clear the head and the latch falls down tothe illustrated position.

Bracket 35 is mounted on an actuator rod 36 slidable in a sleeve 37normal to plate 160. At the extreme end of the rod, a roller 38 isjournaled for centering the starter bar, the outline of which is shownat 39. Bracket 35 has an adjustable limit-stop screw 40 threaded througha tapped hole therein and the screw has a reduced shank extendingthrough a hole in the outer flange of one of the channels 16b. Collars40a on the screw shank limit reciprocating movement of the rod 36.Cylinders 31 operate actuator rods like that shown at 36, slidable insleeves extending through the vertical plate of frames 15, normalthereto.

FIGS. 8 and 9 also show screw jacks 41 engaging frames for minortransverse adjustment of cage 10.

The jacks are mounted on mold-oscillator frame 12 and are operated inpairs by cross shafts 42 parallel to rollers 17. Hand wheels 43 on theseshafts permit the jack screws to be advanced or retracted as needed toeffect minor adjustment of cage 10 for precise alignment with mold 11.

Referring now to H6. 11, it will be noted that frames 15 have bottomflanges 44. Holes in these flanges have cooling-water tubes 45 settherein which extend upwardly and make connection with manifolds 22. Theguide-roller rack 13 has water-supply pipes 46 terminating flush withthe top thereof which register with the holes in which tubes 45 are setwhen the cage 10 is set on rack 13. Grooves 47 in flanges 44 around theholes in which tubes 45 are set, with seal rings 47a therein effect aself-sealing of the joint between pipes 46 and tubes 45 yet leave itfree for immediate breaking when necessary.

FIGS. 2, l2 and 13 show key-and-slot means for insuring proper relationbetween cage 10 and rack 13. A tapered yoke 48 depending from the bottomflange 44 of each frame 15 provides a keyway 49. These keyways embracekeys 50 affixed centrally and vertically to the top of rack 13 onopposite sides thereof. Thus, when cage 10 is lowered onto rack 13,cooperative engagement of the slots and keys accurately positions thecage on the rack with respect to both axes of the mold. After the cagehas been set down in proper position on rack 13, it is secured theretoby engaging swing bolts 51 (FIG. 3).

Among the numerous advantages of my invention is the fact that theentire cage 10 may be assembled away from the continuous casting lineand then lowered into place therein when desired. Removal may beeffected by a straight uplift and, concomitant therewith, latches 33 aresimply raised off of piston-rod heads 32. The short sections 15' and 16'of the end frames may be omitted to make possible the use of a mold ofgreater depth. The spray nozzles extending between the rollers engagingthe broad slab faces are arranged to clear the spaced back-up rollers 19and to effect cooling at the maximum rate. Accurate positioning of cage10 on its supports is effected by keys 50 and keyways 49. Any slightnudging of the cage for proper final exact alignment may be effectedmanually byjacks 41. Cylinders 30 and 31 accurately position the starterbar, through rods 36, as it is being raised.

Although I have disclosed herein the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I intend to cover as well any change or modification thereinwhich may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

lclaim:

1. In combination, a continuous casting mold having a tubular cavity ofrectangular section extending therethrough, a roller cage immediatelybelow said mold, said cage comprising side and end frames securedtogether forming a rigid housing open at both upper and lower ends,opposed banks of rollers journaled in said frames adapted to engage,respectively, the broad faces and the edges of a slab formed in saidmold as it emerges therefrom, a cooling structure coextensive with saidroller banks, said cooling structure comprising a water supply, a pairof cooling spray manifolds on opposite sides of said cage, nozzlesprojecting from said manifolds between the rollers in said side frames,pipes leading to said manifolds, connections between said pipes and saidwater supply having self-sealing make-and-break coupling means therein,said coupling means including a support having flush engagement with thebottoms of said end frames, said support and said bottoms havingregistering watersupply holes with which said pipes are aligned, taperedyokes at the bottoms of said end frames, said yokes having downwardlyopen keyways, and keys on said support received in said keyways, wherebysaid cage is accurately positioned with respect to said support.

2. In combination, a continuous casting mold having a tubular cavity ofrectangular section extending therethrough and primary cooling means insaid mold, a roller cage immediately below said mold, said cagecomprising side and end frames secured together forming a rigid housingopen at both upper and lower ends, opposed banks of rollers journaled insaid frames adapted to engage, respectively, the broad faces and theedges of a slab formed in said mold as it emerges therefrom, a secondarycooling zone coextensive with said roller banks, said secondary coolingzone havinga cooling structure comprising a water supply, a pair ofbottoms of end frames, said support and said bottoms have registeringwater-supply holes with which said pipes are aligned, respective yokesat the bottoms of said end frames, said yokes having downwardly openkeyways, and keys on said support received in said keyways positioningsaid cage accurately with respect to said support.

1. In combination, a continuous casting mold having a tubular cavity ofrectangular section extending therethrough, a roller cage immediatelybelow said mold, said cage comprising side and end frames securedtogether forming a rigid housing open at both upper and lower ends,opposed banks of rollers journaled in said frames adapted to engage,respectively, the broad faces and the edges of a slab formed in saidmold as it emerges therefrom, a cooling structure coextensive with saidroller banks, said cooling structure comprising a water supply, a pairof cooling spray manifolds on opposite sides of said cage, nozzlesprojecting from said manifolds between the rollers in said side frames,pipes leading to said manifolds, connections between said pipes and saidwater supply having self-sealing make-and-break coupling means therein,said coupling means including a support having flush engagement with thebottoms of said end frames, said support and said bottoms havingregistering water-supply holes with which said pipes are aligned,tapered yokes at the bottoms of said end frames, said yokes havingdownwardly open keyways, and keys on said support received in saidkeyways, whereby said cage is accurately positioned with respect to saidsupport.
 2. In combination, a continuous casting mold having a tubularcavity of rectangular section extending therethrough and primary coolingmeans in said mold, a roller cage immediately below said mold, said cagecomprising side and end frames secured together forming a rigid housingopen at both upper and lower ends, opposed banks of rollers journaled insaid frames adapted to engage, respectively, the broad faces and theedges of a slab formed in said mold as it emerges therefrom, a secondarycooling zone coextensive with said roller banks, said secondary coolingzone having a cooling structure comprising a water supply, a pair ofcooling spray manifolds on opposite sides of said cage, nozzlesprojecting from said manifolds between the rollers in said side frames,pipes leading to said manifolds, and connections between said pipes andsaid water supply having self-sealing make-and-break coupling means,whereby said pipes may be quickly disconnected from said water supply,said coupling means including a support having flush engagement with thebottoms of the end frames, said support and said bottoms haveregistering water-supply holes with which said pipes are aligned,respective yokes at the bottoms of said end frames, said yokes havingdownwardly open keyways, and keys on said support received in saidkeyways positioning said cage accurately with respect to said support.